BELIZE CITY — Canadian arrivals to Belize accounted for 6% of total overnight arrivals in 2016 and that percentage share is expected to rise this year with increased traffic from direct flights from Canada to Belize, including WestJet’s new Calgary-Belize route, now in service.

An inaugural ceremony was held at the departure lounge of Belize’s Philip Goldson International Airport Nov. 3 to commemorate WestJet’s new nonstop weekly service out of Calgary. The flights are part of the airline’s seasonal schedule for winter 2017-18.

According to the Belize Tourism Board’s Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans, the new flight will help with connections out of the West. “This makes it much more convenient for a large market in Canada and opens up the opportunities for Belize even more.”

Bevans added: “We expect that the size of the Canadian market will only continue to increase and hopefully we can expect at least 10% of our arrivals with the addition of this flight.”

WestJet also offers service to Belize out of Toronto. The new Calgary flights represent “a resounding confirmation that Belize continues to be a growing, viable and a must-visit destination in Central America and the Caribbean”, says Bevans.